Lithuania Plans Indefinite Closure of Belarus Border Crossings

Lithuania’s Prime Minister, Inga Ruginienė, announced on October 30, 2023, that the country will implement an indefinite closure of its border crossings with Belarus. This decision comes after multiple disruptions to air traffic at Vilnius Airport due to suspected balloon sightings, which authorities believe are linked to attempts to smuggle cigarettes across the border.

The National Security Commission convened following these sightings, which led to the suspension of flights at Vilnius Airport for three consecutive evenings—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Additionally, the Kaunas Airport, located further from the border, also experienced disruptions. Each balloon incident resulted in temporary closures of the two main border crossings at Medininkai and Šalčininkai, as authorities took precautionary measures.

In response to these incidents, Lithuania’s border guard service decided to close the border for an initial 24-hour period starting Sunday night, as reported by the BNS news agency. Prime Minister Ruginienė confirmed that these restrictions will extend until at least Wednesday, when her Cabinet is expected to evaluate whether to prolong the closure indefinitely.

Ruginienė stated that the government is preparing a draft decision for an indefinite border closure, with exceptions for diplomats and diplomatic mail. Citizens of Lithuania and other European Union member states will still be permitted entry from Belarus. As a member of both the EU and NATO, Lithuania occupies a strategic position on the eastern flank of the Western alliance, bordering Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who lives in exile in Lithuania, characterized the balloon incidents as indicative of the Belarusian regime’s use of cigarette smuggling as a form of hybrid aggression against Europe. She expressed support for the closure of the border crossings, describing it as a necessary step to enhance security.

Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the importance of strengthening sanctions against those involved in cigarette smuggling operations, including producers, transporters, and organizers. The Lithuanian government is expected to continue monitoring the situation closely, as it navigates the complex dynamics of border security and regional stability.

As tensions persist along the Lithuanian-Belarusian border, officials are determined to safeguard their national security while maintaining their commitments to EU cooperation and regional integrity.